CL&P working to keep residents cool on hot days

Connecticut Light & Power Co. hopes to complete a $1.2 million upgrade to its East Rocks Road substation this month before hot, air-conditioning draining weather settles in this summer.

Such weather, in part, is already on the way.

Daytime high temperatures in Norwalk are expected to climb throughout the week with Thursday's high forecast at 92 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

"Summer is the typical peak season. That's why we try to get it all completed by July 1," said Christopher C. Swan, director of municipal relations and siting for CL&P. "The equipment there had been beyond its capacity, so we needed a larger transformer installed there for capacity purposes and the switch gear was older so we replaced with all new switch gear."

As a result of the upgrade, the capacity of the East Rocks 17R Substation, as the facility is called by CL&P, will be doubled to 25 megavolt amperes -- more than enough to power the 6,000 to 8,000 homes in the area, according to Swan.

"Also, new switch gear (will) provide quick transfer to an alternate or backup device in case of an outage or equipment failure," Swan said.

Swan said the substation, which is located at 197 East Rocks Road, supplies electricity to the northeast part of Norwalk, from Main Avenue to the Westport border, and from the Wilton town line to the area of Cross Street and Wolfpit Avenue.

Work began last year and proceeded during the winter with CL&P crews and contractors at the substation at various times, according to Swan.

The substation lies on the west side of East Rocks Road, immediately south of the Merritt Parkway and near where another contractor has been working on the reconstruction of the bridge deck over the parkway. That project, which is being undertaken by the state Department of Transportation, is slated for completion in September.